Objective: None.
Tone: Persuasive and thought provoking (I hope!)
*This is technically a draft. I just dumped my thoughts out as I went through the song line by line. Needs to be tightened up.

Been Awhile

Staind’s “Been Awhile” is often read as a song about regret, longing, and personal struggle, but, when you look closely, it also contains subtle religious symbolism that reflects guilt, confession, and the search for redemption.

He opens with a sense of confession, grappling with mistakes and the weight of choices. The lyric “and it’s been awhile since I first saw you…” can be read as representing his first experience with God or religion, the moment of recognition that there is a higher power and a moral framework to which he is accountable. He is a sinner acknowledging his failings and the burden of past actions, and this acknowledgment sets the stage for a spiritual reckoning.

“I wanna be ignored, I wanna disappear” begins the search for humility and introspection. Here, Aaron Lewis seems to recognize the need to confront his limitations, to acknowledge fault, and to seek a higher form of guidance.

Later, the lines “And it’s been awhile since I said I’m sorry. And it’s been awhile since I’ve seen the way the candles light your face. And it’s been awhile, but I can still remember just the way you taste” evoke religious symbolism. Saying sorry refers directly to confession. The candles evoke devotional icons of Jesus, illuminating His sacred presence. The phrase “the way you taste” symbolically represents the Eucharist, the ritual consumption of Christ’s body and blood. In this context, the lyric blends personal longing with spiritual devotion.

The lyric “It’s been awhile since I could hold my head up high” expresses shame and moral reckoning. He struggles under the weight of his guilt and mistakes, longing to stand in harmony with a higher standard. The line “Why must I feel this way? Just make this go away. Just one more peaceful day” could be seen as a prayer for relief, a plea for divine comfort amid inner torment. This reflects the spiritual consequences of wrongdoing, the alienation from God, and the desire to reclaim grace.

The most important lyric of the song, “And it’s been awhile since I’ve gone and fucked things up, just like I always do. And it’s been awhile, but all that shit seems to disappear when I’m with you”, directly evokes the calm and peace he feels in the presence of God, showing that despite repeated mistakes, connection with the divine restores equilibrium, forgiveness, and the sense of being safe, loved, and whole.

He also wrestles with human limitations and parental influence. The lines “I cannot blame this on my father. He did the best he could for me” reflect acceptance, understanding, and the recognition that ultimate guidance and salvation come from a higher power, not earthly figures.

Throughout “Been Awhile”, Aaron Lewis blends personal reflection, guilt, and longing with subtle religious imagery. The song’s confessional tone, repeated acknowledgment of mistakes, longing for forgiveness, and moments of restoration all resonate with religious themes, making it as much about spiritual struggle and redemption as it is about personal heartbreak.